Boris and the C-charge

My podcast called Boris's London has just gone live at Comment Is Free. There's an interview with the mayor at the end in which I ask him to reveal his true feelings about the WEZ. Did he favour "Option 3"?

Dave: Can you look me in the eye and says that that wasn't actually your secret preference, because many people thought it was.

Boris: Well, Dave, I'm going to look you in the eye and tell you that I genuinely saw attractions in a scheme that could have alleviated some of the problems for business and which, you know, could have continued frankly - I'm going to be absolutely candid with you - to have delivered, you know, some revenue for the London authorities. In a completely cynical way I thought that might be a good way to go...but, I was absolutely reconciled, and I always made it clear that I was reconciled to getting rid of it if that was the clear will of the people of west London...I think that we've done the right thing.

That seems just about clear. It's also worth bearing in mind in relation to a handful of websites that have taken remarks the mayor made last week at MQT as a signal that he intends getting shot of the original C-Charge zone too. Significantly, the opposition on the Assembly haven't gone to town about his "brood on it" comment and his office has provided me with the following statement:

The Mayor's comments have been taken completely out of context. There are categorically no plans to scrap the congestion charge.

Whatever his underlying gut feelings about the principle of congestion charging, that'll take a bit of rowing back from. To hear the whole of my podcast - produced by the fantastic Francesca Panetta - click here.